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This is a picture of a knight in a tournament. Knights fought each other in tournaments to win fiefs and when a knight was captured, they could be ransomed off. Tournaments contained of mock battles, jousts and other competitions. Knights fought in steel armor suits with chain mail on, tiny woven metal links, and also steel swords, and shields. These could be lethal at some points but most people were captured and had their armor taken which could be ransomed back to the knight for a high fee. Originally tournaments were for practice Tournaments could improve knights social status if they won over and over again. Knights were also important to the kings, because if a knight was under a king's control and that knight did good in battle and tournaments it could promote the king. Kings also held tournaments because they could promote their kingdom and ruler ship, this could make the kingdom more publicized therefore bringing more people to the kingdom and making more prosperous.Besides for getting a fief for winning, knights could become rich and widely known.
Cathedral's were the place to be for religious ceremonies and for other religious activities. The church held service at the cathedral and the church operated in them for the town. Most of the cathedrals, including this one above, has a big spacious main room with gigantic stained glass windows they are also gigantic in size. There were giant stained glass windows because some of the people who were illiterate and couldn't read needed to see a visual aid. People who could read Latin were in very few numbers, only a couple people in each town could read them. Cathedrals were also part government, kings were crowned in some cathedrals and the pope could have rule over the kings and were the head of the church. Also there were stone sculptures on the outsides for the same reason as the stained glass windows. Also people who were involved in the church, were highly respected in society. Since the middle ages were full of religious craze people, people who were part of the church were "closer to god" and respected more. The church was a major part of medieval life and a major governing part of every day life.
Castles were very important in medieval society, and they were places where cathedrals, universities, and other important buildings. They were strongholds for kings and they provided protection during sieges and war. During a war, they could be the best place to be, with high walls, a moat and a drop bridge, no one could get in. The high walls provided archers a good look over the battlefield and could pick off people from a distance. Also catapults and trebuchets could be placed inside the castle an provide good artillery support, taking out a lot of people with one fire. They also were where kings lived in medieval times, It also was where kings had their royal court. A king could rule from a castle and if they were a good ruler, then the peasants loved them, if they were almost a dictator, then the peasants were angry and wanted him to be kicked out of power. Also castles could act as market places in the grounds where Merchants, farmers, Guilds and other people could sell their goods, making the a central hub for trading,and selling of goods.
“Tournaments.” ABC CLIO World history Ancient Eras. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=4&entryid=934372&searchtext=tournaments&type=simple&option=all>
This is a picture of a knight in a tournament. Knights fought each other in tournaments to win fiefs and when a knight was captured, they could be ransomed off. Tournaments contained of mock battles, jousts and other competitions. Knights fought in steel armor suits with chain mail on, tiny woven metal links, and also steel swords, and shields. These could be lethal at some points but most people were captured and had their armor taken which could be ransomed back to the knight for a high fee. Originally tournaments were for practice Tournaments could improve knights social status if they won over and over again. Knights were also important to the kings, because if a knight was under a king's control and that knight did good in battle and tournaments it could promote the king. Kings also held tournaments because they could promote their kingdom and ruler ship, this could make the kingdom more publicized therefore bringing more people to the kingdom and making more prosperous.Besides for getting a fief for winning, knights could become rich and widely known.
“Tournaments.” ABC CLIO World history Ancient Eras. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=4&entryid=934372&searchtext=tournaments&type=simple&option=all>
“Notre-Dame Cathedral.” ABC CLIO. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=24&entryid=980969&searchtext=cathedral&type=simple&option=all>.